Some may read this book because they or a loved one has cancer, students of science may read it because they are about to make career decisions, and students of cancer may read it because of a desire to be acquainted with aspects of cancer other than those with which they work. Although most students of cancer have never seen a malignancy in a human, they are nevertheless expert in one or more of the many fascinating and important aspects of the disease. They contribute to the understanding of DNA and its replication, control of gene expression, receptors and growth factors, developmental aspects, immunology, prevention, and treatment of cancer and a myriad of other important parts of the cancer problem. We are all impressed by the recent compounding of knowledge, but even more so by our lack of knowledge and understanding of how important facts generated in one aspect of investigation bear on another. Students, unaware of the clinical aspects of the disease, lack the information to make the correlations and see the important problems that result. In addition, they may be driven in their endeavors only by the intellectualism of their part of the problem. This book is designed to provide insight and understanding into the human aspects of cancer.

It is not our purpose here to present all-encompassing details of the clinical behavior of patients with cancer that are necessary for diagnosis, medical practice, and patient management.